“I will never run with my headphones. It looks silly” This is what I used to perceive of people running with their headphones but my perception changes when I got hold of the new Adidas RPT-01. The RPT-01 is such a beauty.
In terms of physical appearance, I really like the knitted fabrics covering the overhead rim of the headphones. The perfect blend of black and grey appeals to me. Maybe I am Asian, the headphone seems to compliment well with my black hairs.
Speaking about designs, the overall ergonomic is well thought of. The slide-able feature caters for different head sizes and the clear indication of the sides of the earphones. Although these are standard across all headphones, one special addition to the Adidas RPT-01 is the rubber headband that prevents the headphones from slipping while you are out exercising. I am sure many people had bad experience of keep adjusting the headphones while exercising. The simple solution by putting a headband keep the device in place is brilliant! More so, the rubber headband is removeable for washing.
Comfort
Often, headphone is not as comfortable especially after prolong wearing and it is certainly not so while you are running in humid Singapore condition. I am surprised that RPT-01 is in fact quite comfortable. The knitted earcups cushioned well on the ears and I don’t feel warm near my ears even though I am perspiring like mad after a 5km run. Same as the rubber headband, both earcups could be removed for washing.
Good music quality
All’s good. How about sound? The Adidas RPT-01 is one of the first 2 headphones developed under the partnership with Zound, the company behind audio brands such as Marshall speakers and Urbanears headphones. That sets the mark high and it does deliver reasonable bass while listening to high tempo music though I would like the bass to be more punchy. In terms of clarity, it scores acceptably well.
This headphone is a pure wireless listening companion. There is no 3.5mm audio option for us to compare the sound quality between wired and wireless settings.
Nonetheless, the claimed 40 hours battery life is impressive. I have brought it along for several runs and I have never done a single charge during the testing phase.
Verdict
This product is specifically designed for sports enthusiast. Priced at $299, you get an Adidas branded headphone that promises you comfort and style. On top of that, you get a good-looking headphone that will help you to attract eyeballs in the gym.
Having said so, I think that there should be more features that targeted for fitness training. The current smartphone app serves pretty much as an equalizer which I think it is very underserved. Afterall, Adidas is a sports brand. I think the app could provide more useful data on the activities that could help users to improve their performance.